Yahveh is all I need
A David psalm.
1 Watch over me, God.
I’ve taken refuge in you.
2 I’ve said to Yahveh
“You’re my master.
Nothing good comes to me
apart from you.”
3 Those in our land who lead holy lives
are my heroes, my delight.
4 They’re asking for nothing but trouble
who run after other gods.
I won’t offer them blood libations
or even utter their names!
5 Yahveh, you’re all I need—
my food, my drink.
You hold my destiny in your hands.
6 The land you marked out for me
is all I could ask for—
a rich inheritance.
7 I bless Yahveh who guides me
and teaches my spirit by night.
8 I’ve made Yahveh my sole focus.
I won’t falter with him beside me.
9 So my heart is glad, my soul is joyful
and my body rests easy.
10 For you won’t leave me among the dead
or let your holy one rot in the grave.
11 You’ll show me the path that leads to life.
With you smiling on me
I know the joy of constant abundance.
When I’m beside you
the pleasures are never-ending.
In ancient Israel, servants owed their master absolute loyalty, while masters were bound to protect and provide for their servants. David begins this psalm, like many before it, pleading for protection. Then he professes his devotion to Yahveh (vv. 2-4) and recounts his divine master’s bountiful provision for him (vv. 5-11).
The Israelites served other gods along with Yahveh, just as we do today. (The difference is that their gods came with actual idols.) David knows worshipping other gods ultimately it leads to disaster. Inspired by those totally devoted to Yahveh, David altogether renounces other gods.
What draws us to other gods is thinking they’ll meet needs God can’t or won’t meet. David says Yahveh meets all his needs and more besides—and holds his destiny in his hands. He acknowledges the goodness of all God’s gifts, where he’s put him, his constant guidance and unfailing support. With so loving and gracious a master, David is determined to look to him always and trust him to keep him from falling. He lives wholly in the confidence that, far from abandoning him to death, God will show him the pathway to endless life and joy in his bountiful care.
I feel the constant pull of materialism, consumerism and sensualism. But like every addiction, such gods demand more and more while giving less and less. You offer me a life without lack, Lord. Keep me looking always to you, confident that your love and care for me will never fail. Amen.
